Lagavulin 16 Year Old Scotch Whisky

As a rum drinker I might not know much about whisky… yet! But even I have heard of Lagavulin from the south coast of Islay. I tasted a sample of this whisky last year as part of my advent tasting series.

Nose

I take back every single time I’ve ever called a rum “smoky” because this has really redefined the word.

There’s a really raw earthiness to this too that transports me directly to a muck heap on a farm.

Other than a top note of warm, grilled peaches I don’t get a lot more in terms of individual notes but there is something very attractive about this that makes me want to dive in!

Palate

This has a very briney profile that I’m enjoying but I’m trying not to think of a tin of tuna (fortunately this isn’t fishy!)

The smoke is present but not in an overpowering way as I had expected from the nose; it lingers on the tongue for ages!!

This is rather savoury but I did notice that by adding a couple of drops of water notes of roasted pineapple started to come through.

Honestly I feel a little out of my depth on doing these tasting notes.

4/10 – I enjoy this but not sure it’s one that I’d drink very often. It’s definitely one to revisit once I’m further along in my whisky tasting journey.